Can proton mass be measured without assuming inertia?

In summary, proton mass cannot be measured directly, but is typically measured through high-energy particle accelerators. It can also be calculated using other physical constants, such as the Planck constant and the speed of light. We cannot simply weigh a proton due to its small size and the variable nature of gravitational force. Inertia plays a role in measuring proton mass through determining the energy and momentum of particles during collisions.
  • #1
bubsir
15
3
Direct gravitational measurements of subatomic particles seems impossible. Has it been done/tried? The mass of the proton as I know it is always "indirectly" determined by (for example) bending a beam of charged protons in a magnetic field.
 
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  • #2
It's been done with neutrons.

But what's wrong with using a box of hydrogen?
 
  • #3
Could that be because you can gather a large number of neutrons together without them scattering in all directions before you can measure them?
Hydrogen - yes, why not? Or any other atom, for that matter.
 

1. Can proton mass be measured directly?

No, proton mass cannot be measured directly. It can only be measured indirectly through experiments and calculations.

2. How is proton mass typically measured?

Proton mass is typically measured through high-energy particle accelerators, such as the Large Hadron Collider, which can collide protons at high speeds and measure the resulting energy and momentum of the particles.

3. Can proton mass be calculated using other physical constants?

Yes, proton mass can be calculated using other physical constants, such as the Planck constant and the speed of light, through the famous equation E=mc².

4. Why can't we simply weigh a proton to determine its mass?

We cannot simply weigh a proton because it is too small to be measured on a standard scale. Additionally, the concept of weight is dependent on the gravitational force, which can vary in different locations and is not an accurate measurement of mass.

5. What is the role of inertia in measuring proton mass?

Inertia is the resistance of an object to changes in its motion. In the case of measuring proton mass, it plays a role in determining the energy and momentum of the particles during collisions, which is used to calculate the mass indirectly.

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